Pregnancy update: 33+2

Nearing the end now... just over 6 weeks to go! I finish up at work at the end of this week and I can't wait!!

Measurements at 33 weeks pregnant:

• Waist: 119 cm (was 114 cm at 29 weeks)
• Hips: 102 cm (not sure why, but this is 1 cm less than at 29 weeks... weird!)
• Weight gain: 10 kg (in truth, some of it is probably due to the chocolate teddy bear biscuits I have become addicted to!)
  

The bump is big, big, big! Though thankfully has dropped down lower, so I can breathe OK most of the time. Unfortunately it also means that Thumper is lodged right down low in my pelvis (a good position in preparation for birth but bloody uncomfortable for day-to-day living). I can't bend to tie my shoelaces. My abdominal muscles seem have abdicated so I have pathetically low core strength. Took me about 15 mins to push the trolley across the car park when I left the supermarket today! Basically, everything is a great effort - especially getting up from sitting, squatting or kneeling on the floor (something I seem to do quite often due to BallFiend being only 92 cm tall).

Current aches and pains:

• Still have the deep muscle soreness in my right gluteal muscle.
• Sacroiliac joint still aches.
  
• Still get the stabbing muscle pain, like a stitch on the lower right side of my belly, if I walk for more than about 5 minutes.
  
• Also get out of breath quite quickly, even after only mild exhertion.
  
• Ribs sometimes sore around the back, presumably due to being flared out to accommodate Thumper.
  
• Have had a few cramps in my feet.
• Kicks, prods and other movements by Thumper cause sudden, and sometimes painful, twinges at times.
  

I saw a physiotherapist today (after waiting for 2 weeks for an appointment!). Had some massage and got some stretches to do, plus some other tips on managing the pains:

• use a heat pack on sore muscles;
• walk on smooth, soft surfaces eg. grass rather than the footpath;
• use a lumbar support cushion when sitting;
• minimise walking;
• do stretches daily (in particular, on hands and knees do the 'cat' stretch (arching back) and a 'hip-to-shoulder' sideways stretch);
• when standing, shift my weight to the centre of my foot (rather than having it forward on the ball of my foot) as this activates the core muscles and will help take the load off my sacrum;
  
• could try water therapy - eg. walking in a pool;
• keep knees together (or as I put it to her 'be more lady-like'). Eg. swivel with knees together when getting into or out of a car;
• Sleep on left side with a pillow between my knees (I already do!);
• Wearing low-heeled, soft-soled shoes, eg. runners.
  

Nocturnal interruptions

• On a bad night, I wake approximately every hour. There is no comfortable position anymore. Mainly I lie on my left side because of my sore back, bum and leg. But eventually the pressure on my left hip gets too much and so I have to wake up to turn over (as this requires a major readjustment of pillows between my legs). Then I lie on my right side until my sore muscles complain and I turn back to my left side again.
• On a good night, I sleep for 8 hours straight (this is usually following 5 bad nights in a row, when I get to the point of sheer exhaustion, so nothing will wake me, however achy I am!)
  
• One to two toilet breaks on a typical night (usually around 1.30 am and 5.30 am).
• Occasional early breakfast at 4.30 am.
  
• BallFiend still sleeping well (7.30 pm until 7.30 am).
  

The tenant (Thumper):

• Is head down, ready for the big day (at least this according to the midwives and obstetrician, who have examined me at the past couple of visits).
  
• Doesn't really kick or thump so much anymore. More inclined to make lots of large movements, full body turns or lots of little squirmy, tickling movements, and these are often really, really low down in my pelvis.
  
• Still get the occasional thump though, but I guess it is getting pretty squashy in there.
  

Fitness regime

• Continue to do Yoga class each Saturday. No longer accompanied by The Librarian, who brought LittleMissF into the world on July 7 (a week early).
  
• Walking is pretty much out, on advice of the obstetrician and physiotherapist - apparently my aching pelvic area is showing signs of pelvic instability, so I have been advised to keep walking to a minimum.
• Lying on my side on the couch during the day! (Resting is good for the body too!)
  

General Health

• Diet continues to be 'reasonable' - at least some fresh fruit and vegies daily, but well-balanced with chocolate and other sugary delights.
  
• So far, still free of Swine flu. Apparently the epidemic has peaked in Victoria now. Although advice to pregnant women is stronger - ie. wear a mask, avoid crowds, etc. Still taking Vitamin C daily.
  
• Sore throat persists - a background annoyance, but not the worst thing in the world. Doctor has done some tests (which I still haven't got the results for!).

Birth/Baby preparation

• Currently reading Birth Skills by Juju Sundin (highly recommended to me by several people).
  
• Have done two of three Hypnobirthing classes and finished reading Hypnobirthing: the Mongan Method prior to the first class.
• Practicing hypnosis techniques a little bit most days. (Approximately 3 nights a week DeepSpice and I do a session together, the rest of the time are exercises I do alone.)
  
• Still remembering to do pelvic floor exercises most days.
  
• Picked up the sofabed a few weeks ago... ready for DeepSpice on those nights when he needs to sleep away from a screaming infant.
  
• Occasional and usually incidental discussions with BallFiend about what it will be like when Thumper is born. Trying not to make to big a deal about it and at the same time, make the most of opportunities as they arise. Eg. if another mum is breastfeeding her baby, I will point it out to BallFiend; we talk about what babies do (not much but cry, sleep and poo) and I have told him that DeepSpice and I will be very tired when Thumper is born. Also been making the point that once Thumper comes to live in our house, it will be for good. So many others have told me that the older sibling loves the new baby for about 2 weeks, but then gets really peeved when they find out the arrangement is permanent!
  
• Maternity leave sorted out - I am taking 12 months plus another 6 months long service. Handover at work pretty much complete - just a couple of tasks still to finish off. But mostly the last two days at work are catching up with people to say goodbye.
  
• Nesting... still no signs. But have been trying to get those last few home renovation essential projects done: DeepSpice has been nagged into draught-proofing of windows (a couple still to go); I have had quotes for external awnings, internal blinds and a security door for the front door (still trying to finalise which company to use though); have done more decluttering with a successful eBay auction completed last Thursday; Tilers are booked for next week to finish fixing up the fireplace in the backroom. Still, the 'to do' list has plenty more left on it, and no end in sight! I will give up shortly, I'm sure.
  

Overall...

It is really hard to 'enjoy' this pregnancy compared to my first one. The aches and pains have been worse, from much earlier on, and there is no rest time with BallFiend already in my life. More often than not, I find myself thinking "What have I done!! What possessed me to want a second baby?". I am dreading the thought of all-night sleep deprivation that comes with a newborn, and I can't comprehend how I am going to give any time to BallFiend or DeepSpice. Worst of all, with BallFiend being nearly three years old, our life is just starting to feel really 'normal' again - we are getting back some time to ourselves (mainly in the evenings, but also because BallFiend is now old enough to be more easily baby-sat by others). When Thumper arrives, so will the chaos and no doubt it will be another three years before we get back to this stage where life is more managable again. On the positive side, I am still looking forward to having a tiny baby to cuddle, feed and adore again; that and 18 months away from paid work!

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